Anti-bullying

DECA members campaign against bullying

Rehgan Harris and Maddy Witzofsky choose anti-bullying focus for their DECA event

HOPE SHIMONY

sta writer | @hope_shimony

Each school year, DECA members choose which event they want to compete in for the district competition. Usually, students pick the events that they have the best chance at winning, but this year, two seniors had a di erent goal in mind.

At the start of September, seniors Rehgan Harris and Maddy Witzofsky chose to start an anti-bullying campaign for their DECA event — titled “Community Service Project” — in order to change the perceptions and image surrounding bullying. The project will raise money for KIND, an anti-bullying organization that uses donations to travel to schools and inform students on the harmful e ects of bullying.

“[Rehgan and I] both loved [the KIND campaign’s] message,” Witzofsky said. “We wanted to make our community service project about helping kids that are bullied because it has become such a problem.”

Harris and Witzofsky will showcase their project at the DECA district competition in February. Although the seniors hope to perform well in the competition, their main goal is to shed light on and prevent the extensive bullying that can take place in high school.

“This campaign is meant to spread awareness of bullying, because even if it is not happening to you, it is happening in Ladue and needs to be stopped,” Harris said.

Harris and Witzofsky plan to raise money through penny war competitions, banner signings, fundraising at parent-teacher conferences and girls basketball games. These activities’ dates have not yet been determined. They hope that their fundraisers will get every student involved in the campaign to help raise money for their project as well as give students an opportunity to talk about any experiences they may have had with bullying. “Many students may be too afraid to speak up if they’re getting bullied,” Witzofsky said. “While the high school does a good job of having adults students can talk to, at times it may be easier for students to talk to their peers about what is going on.” Every year, Ladue requires students to complete an anonymous survey during seminar that asks whether or not they have been bullied or have ever committed an act of bullying. The survey is meant to provide the administration with more information on the prevalence of bullying among students in the high school, which is something that senior and survey participant Josh Horowitz appreciates. “Bullying unfortunately happens most places in life, including in high school,” Horowitz said. “While I do think Ladue does a pretty good job fighting against it, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.”

Take this path to reduce your carbon footpr 1 Unplug devices that are not in use Bring reusable grocery 3 5 Check the air filter of your furnace every bags month

Source: Natural Resource Defense Council

2

Wash clothes only when you have a full load

4

Avoid eating meat and dairy products

6

Ashes to ashes,

ANNA LINER

in-depth editor | @annaliner

to

Excessive electricity use. High de- few as 12 years the world climate could climate change is real and occurring While she believes that the interna mand for transportation. Indus- be drastically dangerous. due to human activity. That’s certainly tional community has taken a step in trial production polluting the air “One of the concerns that we’ve alarming and we’re seeing the e ects of the right direction in its e and waters. Human activity like this is had in this state is flooding, not just it more and more.” environmental issues, she notes that slowly decaying the planet. because of environmental concerns, Scientists have proved that human there is still room for improvement According to NASA, Earth has expe- but loss of property and human life are activities are largely responsible for the across the globe. Chacon said students rienced 16 of the concerns,” Ed Smith, increased presence of greenhouse gas- can easily make lifestyle changes to

17 warmest years “ policy director for the es in the atmosphere over the last 150 help reduce their carbon footprint. recorded since 2001. Without the emissions from Folks are concerned that we have a large amount of Missouri Coalition for the Environment, said. Despite the years. This is due to the everyday use of electricity, heat, transportation and household appliances. “Helping [to] recycle in our building is a major way that students can help out,” Chacon said. “When it comes burning coal and politicians who don’t even increasing hazards While most of the world accepts directly to climate change, if carbon oil, there is little likelihood that 13 out of the acknowledge that climate change is real and occurof climate change, the Trump administration continues to that climate change is occurring and can cost the global economy billions of dollars in less than 15 years, many emissions are the main way that people contribute, just try to watch what you and your family are doing that’s emit warmest years ring due to human activity. attempt to roll back average citizens — both in the world ting carbon.” on record would Obama-era environ- and the United States — find it di cult Ross helps the environment through have happened. mental policies. From to change their daily lifestyles. Elements and continues to pursue her And yet, the President continues shrinking the Environmental Protection “Even if [most people] believe in it, interests in renewable energy. She feels to deny climate change. He has even Agency to abandoning the Paris Climate they don’t want to say they do, because that small, everyday changes — such as tweeted that “the concept of global Accord, the Trump administration that would mean that they have to do recycling properly, turning o warming was created by and for the proceeds limited the country’s e orts something about it,” senior and Ele- carpooling — can help slow down much Chinese in order to make U.S. manufac- to combat climate change on a global ments Co-President Megan Ross said. of the environmental damage humans turing non-competitive.” scale. “It’s such a daunting problem that some have caused on Earth. Many world leaders have also gone “Our current President has with- people just push it o and act like it’s “[I’m] doing everything I can to on record to deny its existence. Despite drawn the United States from the Paris not the big problem that it is.” help the environment,” Ross said. “ I’m this, the United Nations released a Accord,” Smith said. “Folks are con- AP Environmental Science teacher conscious of what I’m doing to add report Oct. 6 stating unequivocally that cerned, especially in this country, that Lisa Chacon emphasizes the need for to the problem, so I also if the international community does not we have a large amount of politicians students to stay informed and recog- my responsibility to negate what I’ve take immediate and drastic action, in as who don’t even acknowledge that nize the facts behind climate change. done.” 11.27.2018 in-depth12

otprint 7 Rely more on natural lighting

Turn o your car engine when idle

ANDE SIEGEL

in-depth editor | @andesiegel

While she believes that the international community has taken a step in the right direction in its e ort to tackle environmental issues, she notes that there is still room for improvement across the globe. Chacon said students can easily make lifestyle changes to help reduce their carbon footprint.

“Helping [to] recycle in our building is a major way that students can help out,” Chacon said. “When it comes directly to climate change, if carbon emissions are the main way that people contribute, just try to watch what you and your family are doing that’s emitting carbon.”

Ross helps the environment through Elements and continues to pursue her interests in renewable energy. She feels that small, everyday changes — such as recycling properly, turning o lights and carpooling — can help slow down much of the environmental damage humans have caused on Earth.

“[I’m] doing everything I can to help the environment,” Ross said. “ I’m conscious of what I’m doing to add to the problem, so I also feel like it’s my responsibility to negate what I’ve done.”

The progession of climate change 1850-1900

The Pre-Industrial Era was the time period before the Earth saw the e ects of climate change and rapid industry.

Source: BBC

2018

Wildfires have been frequently increasing since the mid-1980s as climate change increases world temperatures. These long, dry periods have led to 50,546 wildfires from Jan. 1 to Oct. 26.

Source: National Interagency Fire Center

art by ANNA LINER

2080

Deaths from heat waves could increase by up to 2,000 percent in certain parts of the world.

Source: PLOS Medicine

2100

Sea levels will have risen 1-4 feet, displacing 470 to 760 million coastal residents.

Source: NASA, Climate Central